The Final Chapter: Machine Cycle + Networking

              Machine Cycle, also known as Instruction Cycle or Processor Cycle, is the operation made by a central processing unit which is the main logic unit of a computer. There are three steps:

1. Fetch the instruction from the memory
2. Decode or translate the retrieved instruction into a series of computer commands in the control unit
3. Execute the computer commands in the arithmethic logic unit

               Also, the data are being stored in the memory after being executed by ALU. The process goes on and on after the storage.

The Final Chapter: Confusing Conversions Part 2

Continuation...

• Hexadecimal - Binary 

        Simply use the conversion table on my last entry. The process is just the same as converting binary into hexadecimal, but only vice versa. Still, here's an example:
         C51=___
         C = 11    , 8+0+2+1=11   , 1011 = C
         5 = 5      , 0+4+0+1=5    , 0101 = 5
         1 =1        , 0+0+0+1=1    , 0001 = 1
          Thus, it is equal to 1011 0101 0001. 

•  Decimal - Hexadecimal 

          Just convert the decimal into a binary before turning into a hexadecimal.

• Hexadecimal - Decimal    

          Convert the hexadecimal into a binary so you can turn it into a decimal:))       

         

The Final Quarter: Confusing Conversions

              Really, converting is really confusing. It's easy once you are used to it. But the only way to master it is to practice and be careful. Always check the base. The most common case of mistakes is converting it wrongly. For example, you must convert a binary into a hexadecimal but you didn't notice that you turned it into a decimal. Here are the ways on how you can convert:

• Binary - Decimal

          example: 11100111=_____  
                128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
                   1   1   1    0   0 1 1 1
          The numbers above the binary are the powers of two. The numbers that point to 1 must be added together to get the decimal form.
           128+64+32+4+2+1=231
          Therefore, 11100111 is equal to 231.

• Decimal - Binary

          example: 239=_____
          Subtract the highest power of two that is less than the binary from the binary. Continue on subtracting the powers of two from the binary, making sure that the difference is not negative. Whenever the power of two can be subtracted, put 1 under it, but if it can't be, put 0.
          128 64 32 16 8 4 2 1
            1     1   1    0  1  1 1 1
           In this case, 16 got a 0 under it because the difference of 32 and 47 (which you get from subtracting 239 to 64 and 128) is 15. And if you subtract 15 to 16, you'll get a negative one.
           So, 239=11101111

• Binary - Hexadecimal

          example: 111001111101=_____
           Divide the binary every 4 bits starting from the right. For every set of bits, put the four lowest power of two from right to left. Add the ones which are pointed to 1.
           1110  0111  1101
           8421 8421 8421
        =   14      7      13
           Because the sum could only be up to 15, here are the corresponding values in hexadecimal:
         

          Therefore, 111001111101 is equal to E7D in hexadecimal.
   

0010 be continued...

The Final Quarter: Meet Bi, Deci and Hexa!

              Binary number is a number that is composed of only ones and zeroes and is of any length. It is also known as base-2.
              The numbers that we commonly see and is composed of number from zero to nine are the decimals. Another term for it is base-10.
               Every binary has a corresponding decimal and vice versa.
              Hexadecimals are the combination of numbers and letters from A to F. It is also called as base-16.

The Final Quarter: Data Representation

               There are two types of data that are store within a computer:

• Original data or information is a data that is introduced to a computing system for the first time.
• Previously Stored data or information is the one that has already been processed by a computer and is being stored.

               The process of taking a visual image or audio recording and converting it to a binary form for the computer is called digitizing.
              
               The common basic technologies used for storing binary information are:

• Electronic (flashdrive)
• Magnetic (external/hard drive)
• Optical (CD/DVD)

             
               Bit is the smallest unit of data the computer uses. It can be used to represent two states of information. While a byte can represent 256 states of information. 8 bits are equal to 1 byte.
              
               The most important characteristics of storage devices are:

• Speed - consider the access time. The fastest one is the electronic device.
• Cost - The cheapest device is the optical one.
• Capacity - Magnetic device can hold the largest capacity.
• Type of Access affects the speed of device. There are two types. One is the sequential which is obtained by proceeding from the start until the designated area. The other is random access wherein you can go directly to the designated area.

               Information is moved about in bytes or multiple bytes called words which are the fundamental units of information.

The Final Quarter: Software

               The programs which tell the computer system what to do are software. They give instructions that the CPU will need to carry out. There are two types of software:

1. System Software manages, maintains and controls the resource of the computer. These are the programs that take control of the computer.

• System Management Program

          Operating System (OS) is a program that monitors and controls all input/output and processing activities within a computer system.    

• System Development Program

          Compilers are what software used to create software through programming.

2. Application Software is designed and created to perform specific personal, business, scientific processing tasks.

• General Purpose Program
• Application Specific Program     

Here are a few reminders from Sir Tom:

*Platform is defined by a processor and an operating system.
*Software created to run a specific platform won't run on other platforms.
*Microsoft Windows operating system + Intel compatible-processor = Wintel platform is what most personal computer users choose.
*You can't run modern systems on earlier platforms.
*Before choosing a platform, consider the availability of appropriate commercial application software for the platform and the compatibility of platform with existing hardware, software and expertise.

                      

The Final Quarter: Computer System & Hardware Specifications

               We immediately started our lesson for the last quarter after the periodical exam. These are the things that I've learned about Computer System and Hardware Specs:
               One that's able to take in inputs and produces outputs is the Computer System. It is made up of two components: the hardware and the software. Some examples of a hardware are the CPU, keyboard, mouse, memory and input/output devices. While the operating system and applications are examples of a software. A hardware can work even if it doesn't have a software because of the firmware which is always installed to it.
               Here are the kinds and subtypes of a computer:

(c) Sir Tom Secundo

              One that's really amazing is the super computer which NASA uses and Watson is an example.
              Hardware Specs or Hardware Specifications are the one that dictate the limits and maximum capability of a hardware/device depending on a given criteria or unit of measurement.
              System Requirement, obviously, requires the minimum hardware specs of a computer system so it will be able to run a particular computer software.